wolfe



Sept. 13, 1955 w. E. woLFE 2,717,794

GATE LATCH Filed Jan. SO, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1El J v- 2/ F' z O I l Q3 G ,I 20 2J l o Y A O Z3 I' JJ I 2` n -?2\ U gg {"Jl' T135 4,*

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GATE LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet g Tll- JJ -INVENTOR mit 2J BY United States Patent O mult GATE LATCH Willis E. Wolfe, Anderson, Ind. Application January 36, 1953, Serial No. 334,273 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-2) rl`his invention relates to a gate latch of the general type disclosed in my U. S. patent application, Serial No. 305,198, tiled August 19, 1952.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction which may be more advantageously manufactured and will be more rugged and durable.

ln the prior construction, two spring-closed pivoted latch members were mounted on a post-carried suping knob for spreading the the gate-carried member. The cam shaft, its cams and its knob were three separate units. The present invention, however, improves upon the prior construction by embodying the cam shaft, cams and knob in a one-piece unit, obviating prior assembly operation.

In the prior construction, the latch members were pivoted at one end to the supporting bracket and at their other ends projected considerably beyond said bracket to engage the gate carried member. They were thus subject to lateral bending away from the bracket if accidentally struck. The present invention, however, improves upon the prior construction by providing the projecting ends of the latch members with novel guides which slidably engage the supporting bracket and obviate the danger of bending said latch members.

In the prior construction, the closing springs of the latch members were hooked at their ends around lateral pins on said latch members; and these pins were provided lateral bending away from the supporting bracket.

In the prior construction, the supporting bracket was constructed from three separate pieces Welded together, but the present invention simplifies this by the provision of a one-piece cast metal bracket. A similar change is made in the gate-car1ied member.

fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing, and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a gate, a gate post, and the improved latch;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views on lines 3*?, and 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a top View of the cam shaft and its cams and knob; and

Fig. 6 is a detail section showing a portion of one of the latches and the associated bolt which guides said latch and connects the latch closing springs to said latch.

The constructlon shown in the drawings will be rather specifically described but it is to be understood that variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed. rnetal bracket 10 is provided for mounting on the gate post 11 at the free end post 11, and a C-shaped yoke 14 at one side of said 13 respectively, and the edge of said portion 16 for presentation toward the gate 12, projects laterally beyond the arms 15 as shown at 19 in Fig. 2, for a purpose to appear.

For attaching the 2d are passed through openlngs in the plate 13, and to adjust said bracket with respect to said post, said plate post, as in the prior structure above discussed.

Two horizontally extending latch arms 22 lie against the inner side of the plate 13 between the yoke arms 15 and are disposed one upon the other. At one end, these latch arms 22 are pivoted to the plate, for vertical swinging, by means of bolts 23 preferabl having selflocking nuts 24. At their other ends, which plate 13, the latch arms 22 have registering notches 25 and beveled nose hooks 26 to engage a gate-carried member yet to be described. Between their ends, the latch purpose to appear.

Two bolts 28 are threaded horizontally through openings 29 (Fig. 6) in the projecting end portions of the latch arms 22 and are locked by lock nuts 30. These bolts are near the edge 31 is presented toward heads 32 aid in vertically guiding the latch arms 22 and hold said latch arms against being bent away from the assembling and adjusting.

The bolts 2S project laterally toward the extended portion 19 dentally slipping out of place.

one-piece unit U (Fig. 5) is entire unit U against sliding in one direction. Sliding in the other direction is prevented by a cotter pin 39 passed through an opening 40 (Fig. 5) in the hub 38, said Cotter pin 39 being disposed at the inner side of the arm-connecting portion 16 of the yoke 14. In assembling, the unit U is simply moved into theposition shown most clearly in Fig. 2, and the cotter pin 39 is then inserted and bent in the usual way. The cams are of course sutciently short to allow them to pass through the bearing opening 18 during assembly.

The gate-carried member 41 for engagement with the hooks 26 and notches 25 of the latch arms 22, is very similar to the corresponding member of the prior construction above discussed. However, it is now a onepiece metal casting instead of two pieces welded together. This member 41 comprises an elongated bar 42 to be secured to the gate 12 by clamps 43, and a projecting arm 44 integral with said bar to engage the hooks 26 and notches 2S of the latch arms 22. The bar 42 and arm 44 are preferably constructed of the maximum length ever needed and may be sawed ott as required.

As in the prior structure, mere closing of the gate engages the arm 44 with the latches 22 and accidental release is impossible. However, turning of the knob 37 in either direction, causes the cams 36 to swing the latches to released positions.

From the foregoing it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for improving upon the construction disclosed in my prior application, above identiiied, However, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations without departing from the spirit and scope ot the invention as claimed. Also, it will be understood that the term gate as herein used, is to be given a sufficiently broad meaning as to include any kind of a closure with which the invention may be used.

1 claim:

1. ln a gate latch, a supporting bracket including a plate, a latch on one face of said plate, said latch being pivoted to said plate at one end and at its other end projecting beyond one edge of said plate, a guide on said latch, said guide having one portion extending from said latch across said one edge of said plate, and a second portion projecting laterally from said one portion, said second portion lapping slidably onto the side of said plate remote from said latch.

2. In a gate latch, a supporting bracket including a plate, a latch on one face of said plate, said latch being pivoted to said plate at one end and at its other end projecting beyond one edge of said plate, a bolt threaded through said projecting end portion of said latch, said bolt having one end portion projecting laterally in one direction from said latch, said one end portion extending across said one edge of said plate and being provided with a head, said bolt having its other end portion projecting in the other direction from said latch, said head lapping slidably onto the side of said plate remote from said latch, a lock nut threaded on said bolt and abutting the side of said latch, remote from said head, a handactuated latch releasing member mounted on said bracket, and a tension spring hooked onto the threads of said other end portion of said bolt and yieldably holding said latch against said latch-releasing member.

3. A structure as specified in clairn 2; said bolt having a {iat-sided head contiguous to the inner side of said head for engagement by a wrench.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

